Headline: MGA Member Days Offer An Enjoyable Tournament Atmosphere, Access to Private Courses and Pro Shop Credit for Top Divisional Finishers

For Immediate Release: August 23, 2016

Wedgewood Pines Country Club

Stow, Mass. – One of the most popular benefits of being an MGA member golfer (i.e. anyone who holds an up-to-day MGA/USGA GHIN number with one of our Member Clubs) offers is the opportunity to participate in the MGA Member Day program.

CLICK HERE to view the complete 2016 MGA Member Club schedule which includes opportunities to play at the following sites: Acoaxet Club, The Ridge Club, Berkshire Hills CC, Woods Hole GC, The Club at New Seabury, and Pocasset GC.

This popular program - which was launched in 2010 - is a one-day shotgun tournament where members of all playing abilities can try out some of the state’s top private courses in a fun atmosphere for a tournament-style event.

While the benefits of the Member Day program have been highlighted throughout the season, including the new lottery system that allows equal opportunity for all players in the program and the benefit that clubs get by hosting such events, there are also benefits for each competitor in the field.

On Tuesday at Wedgewood Pines Country Club, the site of the MGA’s eighth Member Day of the year, 73 players took to the course for a great day of golf. While all participants enjoyed the day, an added perk to the Member Days is the tournament experience that is provides to the players.

At the MGA Member Days, the format for the contest is Modified Stableford, where each individual player receives a certain number of points for each hole, depending on the strokes required to get the ball from the tee into the hole. The fewer strokes on each hole, the more points for that individual player. For example, a 3-under par is equivalent to five points, a 2-under is four, a 1-under par is 3 points and making par gets each individual player two points.

As each player's total scores are calculated, there is more than just bragging rights on the line for the individual. The top three point scorers in the gross division, net division and women’s division each receive pro shop credit that can be used at the host course that day.   

“It’s an added bonus to the tournament aspect of the MGA Member Days,” said Shawn Bennett, the MGA’s Manager of Championships & Member Services, who organizes and oversees the Member Day program. “Having some sort of reward for the top players in the field gives the Member Day program that extra incentive for all players to give their best and adds competition to the atmosphere.”

On Tuesday, the three players from each of the Member Day’s three divisions received credit to Wedgewood Pines CC Pro Shop.

Among them were the following winners for each division.

For net results, Neil Kenney (Tour Greater Bos) led the field of 73 players with 41 accumulated points out to sneak by the second place finisher, Jim Fisher (Butter Brook GC). Kenney registered 3 eagles, six birdies and five pars to Fisher’s one eagle, six birdies and seven pars. Long Meadow GC’s Greg Hogan finished third in the net results with three birdies and 10 pars.

CLICK HERE for gross division results.

CLICK HERE for net division results.

In the gross division, Hogan and Rob Parsi (Stow Acres CC) finished atop the leaderboard with 31 points each. Parsi tallied two birdies and nine pars in the round of 18.

Fellow Longmeadow GC player Charlie Southmayd, who competed in the same four-some as Hogan, placed third in gross results with 30 points via three birdies and 10 pars.

Member Days, and the opportunities to win pro shop credit, will continue throughout the season in the remaining seven Member Days.

The next location for which the lottery to register is still open occurs on Wednesday, October 5 at Sandwich’s “The Ridge Club.” The last day to sign up for the opportunity to play in the event is September 5.

For a complete schedule of remaining Member Days and the corresponding dates that the lottery closes, CLICK HERE.